Comorbidities between temporomandibular disorders and somatization in young adults: Exploring links with personality, emotional, and sleep disturbances

Objectives The comorbidities between Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and somatization, and their associations with personality traits, emotional, and sleep disturbances were investigated. Study Design Young adults, aged 18-24 years, completed an electronic survey encompassing the quintessence five TMD symptoms (5Ts), Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Big Five Personality Inventory-10, Depression, Anxiety, Stress-Scales-21, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data were assessed using non-parametric tests/correlation and logistic regression analysis (α = 0.05). Results The sample comprised 365 participants of which 22.2% and 19.5% were 5Ts-negative without (NN) and with somatization (NS), while 18.1% and 40.3% were 5Ts-positive without (PN) and with somatization (PS). Significant differences in neuroticism, distress, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep quality were observed (PS, NS > PN, NN). Distress, anxiety, stress, and sleep were moderately correlated to somatic but not TMD symptoms (rs = 0.45-0.52). Conclusions Irrespective of TMDs, participants with somatization exhibited heightened levels of neuroticism, emotional, and sleep disturbances.